Coupler operating device



J. E. VAUGHN COUPLER OPERATiNG DEVICE Filed A ril 2, 1937 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John Edward Vaughn, C

mesne assignments,

Equipment Manufactu ration of Delaware Application April 2,

1 Claim.

The invention relates to devices for operating a railway car coupler from adjacent the side of the car, and particularly for a coupler provided with a rotary or oscillating member supported by the coupler head for transmitting operating movement to the coupler lock upon rotation thereof and which is operated by a rod engaging said rotary member so that rotation of the operating rod rotates the rotary member. A typical structure coupler to which my device is applicable is shown in Kinne Patent No. 1,985,036 of December 18, 1934.

An object of the invention is to support the inner end of the operating rod from the coupler head independently of the rotary member of the coupler so as to provide an emergency operating rod support in case of the loss or damage to the rotary member and the connections thereof or parts associated therewith. Another object is to provide such an emergency support which will function in any service position of the coupler.

In the drawing:

Figs. 1 and 2 show a typical application of my device to a railway car.

Fig. 3 shows the head of a coupler, its lock lifter and my operating rod emergency support.

Fig. 4 shows the end of my improved operating rod.

Fig. 5 shows the coupler lock lifter.

The drawing shows the coupler 2, rotary member or lock lifter 3 pivotally connected to the coupler look at 5. The rotary member 3 is provided with an eye 1 intermediate said points of connection (4-5).

The operating rod 9 is supported adjacent the side of the car by the bracket l0 and is provided with a handle H to facilitate rotation thereof. The operating rod 9 is provided with a return bend portion l3 which engages the eye 1 of the rotary member 3 so that rotation of the operathicago, 111., assignor, by to Standard Railway ring Company, a corpo- 1937, Serial No. 134,484

ing rod rotates the rotary member and operates the coupler.

Means are provided, separate from the support of the operating rod 9 by the rotary member 3, to support the inner end of the operating rod directly from the coupler head to form an emergency operating rod support in case of loss or breakage of the rotary member or its associated parts. In the form illustrated the operating rod 9 is provided with an extension [5 10 pivotally engaging a slot 16 in a link I! swingably supported from a pintle l8 on the coupler head. The washer I9 and cotter hold the link I1 in place. The link 16 is swingably supported to allow the coupler to move laterally, inwardly and outwardly in service without disturbing the relation between the operating rod 9 and rotary member 5.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claim, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

Ina railway car having a coupler provided with a rotary member for transmitting operating movements to the coupler, said rotary member being pivotally connected to the coupler head and operatively connected to the coupler lock in combination with an operating rod engaging said rotary member so that rotation of the operating rod rotates the rotary member, said operating rod having its outer end supported by a bracket adjacent the side of the car, and means separate from the lock lifter to support the inner end of the operating rod from the coupler head, said means comp-rising an extension on the operating rod pivotally engaging a slot in a link swingably supported from the coupler head.

JOHN EDWARD VAUGHN. 

